CHAPTER 9: ROLEPLAYING IN THE BUDLANDS
“It’s not just what you do—it’s who you become while you’re high.”
In The High Fantasy, roleplaying is the core of experience. Your character’s relationship with cannabis isn’t just mechanical—it’s emotional, spiritual, cultural, and personal. This world breathes smoke, and it remembers everything.
This chapter helps players go deeper—into their character, their strain alignment, and the relationships they form with others and the world around them. Whether you’re playing a poetic Cannabard, a fierce Blazeguard, or a mutated Alchighmist, this is where the why meets the how.
9.1 Embodying the High
Being high in The High Fantasy isn’t just a condition—it’s a state of truth. It can clarify or confuse. Empower or disorient. Reveal or hide.
When your character is high:
- You might speak in new patterns
- You might act slower—or faster
- You might see memories not your own
- You might feel more deeply than you expect
- You might… change
DMs and players are encouraged to lean into this. The Plant brings your character closer to who they are, not farther.
9.2 Roleplay Tips by Strain Alignment
| Strain | Roleplay Vibe |
| Indica | Reflective, grounded, memory-driven. Pauses before speaking. Likes patterns and rituals. May speak slowly, choose words carefully. |
| Sativa | Energetic, impulsive, visionary. Talks fast, acts faster. Uses metaphors, gets distracted mid-sentence. Inspired by the moment. |
| Hybrid | Chaotic-neutral. Shifts between calm and chaos. Uses humor as defense. Loves surprising people. May hide deeper truths behind jokes. |
| Ruderalis | Quiet, wild, strange. Speaks rarely but with impact. Sees things others miss. Connects to the natural world through gut instinct. |
9.3 Memory as a Tool
The Plant stores memory—yours and others’. A character’s personal First Puff memory is the seed of their emotional journey. But over time, players should explore:
- Forgotten experiences triggered by strain
- Shared dreams seen during Circles
- Visions that blur past and present
- Memory pacts (formed between players or with NPCs)
Some items or strains may store, alter, or reveal memories. You may even need to smoke a memory to remember it.
DMs may use this to:
- Introduce lore
- Create mystery
- Change outcomes of known events
- Add flashback sessions mid-campaign
9.4 Relationships, Bonds & Social Roleplay
Character relationships are central to this game. Whether it’s a Circle bond, a romantic seshpartner, a mentor, or an old rival from a clone war, you are not alone in your high.
Consider exploring:
- Circle Loyalty: Would you break the Circle for them? Would they for you?
- Rivalries: Who smokes better? Grows faster? Controls more turf?
- Strain Syncing: Characters who bond may begin to experience matching vision effects
- Growhouse Ties: Found family through shared land or purpose
Roleplay tools:
- Puff Prompts: Shared questions during downtime
- Sesh Confessions: Emotional beats that only come out when smoking
- Shared Visions: DMs may offer intertwined dreams during Circles
9.5 Growhouse Culture & Identity
Your character might belong to—or found—their own Growhouse. This acts as a mix of home base, crew affiliation, and spiritual anchor.
Growhouses may be:
- Nomadic caravans
- Sacred temples
- Underground bunker grows
- Funky converted apartments
- Floating cloud ships
- Mycelium networks
Roleplay with your Growhouse:
- Defend it during attacks
- Build rituals unique to its location
- Introduce NPC mentors, elders, or young sprouts
- Gain Growhouse Marks—tattoos or strain scents that prove where you’re from
9.6 The Puff Prompt Table (d20)
During downtime or Circle rest, roll or choose to inspire in-character conversation:
| d20 | Puff Prompt |
| 1 | What memory do you fear the Plant will show you? |
| 2 | Who taught you how to roll? |
| 3 | What’s the worst trip you ever had—and what did you learn? |
| 4 | Have you ever been in love with a strain spirit? |
| 5 | What do you smell in the smoke that no one else does? |
| 6 | What song or sound always changes your high? |
| 7 | Who do you sesh with in your dreams? |
| 8 | What would you do if you ran out forever? |
| 9 | What part of yourself only comes out when you’re high? |
| 10 | What did your first Circle feel like? |
| 11–20 | Player’s choice or group decision |
9.7 Flashback Puff
Players or DMs may declare a Flashback Puff—a mechanic to explore backstory, past trauma, or hidden lore.
Trigger it by:
- Puffing a strain tied to memory
- Visiting a sacred place
- Entering a Vision Quest
- Falling unconscious or dying (death doesn’t always end the story here)
Flashback Puffs may:
- Provide advantage or insight
- Unlock SP or new abilities
- Introduce new goals or questions
- Let players rewrite a piece of history (with strain spirit approval)
9.8 Empathy, Safety & Session Tone
While The High Fantasy is playful, weird, and joyful—it also touches on identity, altered states, cultural trauma, healing, and rebellion.
Every table is different. Before you begin:
- Discuss session tone
- Set boundaries for content
- Use safety tools like the X Card, Lines & Veils, or a Session 0
Consent and comfort create better highs—and better stories.